Overview

The MIDI Channel parameters in each MIDI device allows the device to identify what MIDI messages are meant for them and then respond accordingly. If a MIDI message is sent on a different MIDI channel than what the MIDI device is set to, then it will simply ignore that message.

Every MIDI device should have a way to alter it's MIDI channel. Please refer to the manual of your respective MIDI devices.

Basics

In MIDI, there are a total of 16 MIDI Channels you can use ( 1, 2, 3 ... 16 ).

Typically, in a MIDI connection setup, you'll have the MIDI Controller MIDI Output connected to the MIDI Input of a MIDI device, and then the MIDI Output/Thru to the MIDI Input of another MIDI device. This is called chaining.


When the MIDI Controller sends a MIDI message on, for example, MIDI Channel 4, the CC message will pass through all the connected MIDI devices


Assuming that every connected MIDI device is passing the MIDI message through, every device will see this message at their input.


When the MIDI Device that is set to Channel 4 sees this CC message, it will respond according to it's MIDI CC implementation. It knows that the CC message is meant for it because it is on the same MIDI channel as itself. The rest of the MIDI devices will ignore this message because it is on a different MIDI channel as themselves.

Further information

Not all MIDI messages have a MIDI Channel parameter. There are also global and real times messages such as MIDI Clock, Start, Stop, Continue or Song Select messages that do not have a MIDI Channel parameter. These messages are also seen by all connected MIDI devices and the MIDI devices should have it's own individual settings (or are hardcoded) on whether to ignore these messages.

For example, for the Strymon Timeline, there is a parameter in every Preset to tell it whether to follow the incoming MIDI clock BPM or follow the Preset BPM.

Updated on: 18/09/2024